Action Earth campaign launched at North Edinburgh Arts
The Action Earth campaign, run by national charity Volunteering Matters, launched its 2019 grant giving scheme yesterday with the creation of a new biodiversity pond in North Edinburgh. The campaign, which is funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, offers easy to access grants of up to £250 for environmental activities across Scotland.
The first project to be awarded a 2019 Volunteering Matters Action Earth grant was ‘Our Nature Pond’ at North Edinburgh Arts. Volunteers created and planted up a new biodiversity pond in their community garden and carried out planting work across the site.
Volunteering Matters Action Earth grants are available to any group of volunteers carrying out practical environmental improvements or wildlife habitat creation in their local green spaces. Previous projects have included wildflower meadow and pond creation, woodland renovations, shared foraging projects and the establishment of new community gardens or food growing areas.
The campaign is especially keen to hear from projects whose work benefits disadvantaged communities especially in urban areas or in places with reduced local amenity. Last year, 149 projects benefited from Action Earth grant funding, and over 8,400 volunteers were involved in improving biodiversity in their community. On average each volunteer gave an incredible 22.4 hours of their time to their project.
Volunteering Matters Action Earth also offers enhanced £500 grants to projects which significantly benefit people with defined health needs. This could include people with learning or physical disabilities, dementia, mental health issues or other medical conditions.
SNH Chief Executive Francesca Osowska said: “We’re delighted to support the Volunteering Matters Action Earth scheme which is doing so much to improve local green spaces, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
“From helping bats to tree planting and creating wildflower meadows, volunteers are making a real positive difference to communities across Scotland and we look forward to hearing more about this year’s inspiring projects.”
For those looking for inspiration for their projects, the Volunteering Matters Action Earth website has instructions on how to build bird boxes, bat boxes, frog hibernacula, hedgehog boxes and bee/insect homes.
More information is available and applications can be made NOW at the Volunteering Matters Action Earth website:
https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/project/action-earth
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